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Saturday, December 29, 2012

It's been another long year and the stories about animals in need and petitions just keep on coming. So it's time to take a break and look back on some of the wonderful things that have been accomplished this year... thanks to the tireless work of animal advocates from around the world who continue to speak up on behalf of our furry, feathered and finned friends.

1. PETS/CAPTIVE ANIMALS

The Netherlands banned fur farming entirely.

First National Day of No Kill saves thousands of pets from euthanasia. Visit http://www.justoneday.ws to take part in 2013!

Two seal pups were saved from certain death at the Aquarium des Iles in Canada and set free, thanks to public outcry.

Ohio passed a law banning new ownership of big cats, wolves, bears, most primate species and other dangerous exotic animals as pets.

Cincinatti, Ohio repealed its breed ban.

Captive dolphins were banned in Switzerland.

Los Angeles cracked down on puppy mills and became the largest city in the U.S. to ban pet store sales of dogs, cats and rabbits bought from commercial breeders.

Ireland banned puppy mills.

Los Angeles took steps to ban circus elephants.

Hallandale Beach, Florida banned bullhooks, bucking straps and other cruel devices used to "train" animals to perform tricks for entertainment.

Rep. Jim Moran introduced a House Resolution to solicit congressional support for a ban on the use of gas chambers, in addition to calling for states to adopt the more humane method of euthanasia via lethal injection and seek to ensure that shelter workers have ready access to training and certification for humane euthanasia techniques.

Ohio passed a law intended to help shut down puppy mills.

Pennsylvania banned gas chamber euthanasia.

After a long battle, Toronto Zoo's three remaining elephants will finally be moved to the Performing Animal Welfare Society's sanctuary in California.

With the help of the WSPA, Wildlife SOS and alternative livelihood programs for owners, the last of India's dancing bears will finally retire and the 40-year-old ban on them will be enforced.

New Jersey banned horse slaughter.

Michigan adopted three new laws to crack down on animal fighting, which will allow authorities to seize property of those associated with animal fighting and shut down venues associated with animal fighting, in addition to adding animal fighting, shooting and baiting to the list of racketeering crimes.... even though animal fighting is already a felony punishable by up to four years in jail and a $50,000 fine in the state.

Facebook banned puppy mill ads.

2. WILDLIFE

California banned hunting bears and bobcats with dogs.

The European Union voted to close a loophole in existing law and ban shark finning for good.

Amazon.com pledged to stop selling whale and dolphin meat around the world, along with shark fins in the U.S.

California took steps to add gray wolves to the state's list of endangered species, which will offer protection to the state's lone wolf, OR-7, and future protection for those who return.

Puerto Rico adopted a new law to protect 2,000 acres of coast from development and created a nature reserve in an area that's vital to the survival of endangered leatherback sea turtles.

Costa Rica banned shark finning.

The Obama administration announced it will support a ban on the trade of polar bear parts at the next meeting of CITES this spring.

Australia listed koalas as “vulnerable” in Queensland, and as “endangered” in east New South Wales, which will give their protection precedence over any plans for development.

Canada Geese in Lacey Township New Jersey were spared from being gassed by the USDA. The township will be using non-lethal deterrents instead.

3. ANIMAL TESTING

The Canadian Transport Authority approved Air Canada's petition to stop shipping primates for research.

The National Institute of Health retired 110 chimps from the New Iberia Research Center. 100 of them were supposed to be moved to another lab, but thanks to public outcry they will all be going to a sanctuary - Chimp Haven - where they will live out their days in peace.

Europe will be sticking to its 2013 deadline to ban animal testing for cosmetics.

The NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences awarded $70 million in grants to go towards the development of artificial organs, or "organ chips," to be used as an alternative to drug testing on animals.

The notorious animal testing company Covance closed its second lab in Arizona.

The Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Virginia finally ended the use of live animals to train medical students.

The UK took action to ensure stray animals will not be used in experiments.

Urban Decay, a well-known cosmetics company with cruelty-free and vegan products, got its cruelty-free status back after withdrawing its plans to sell products in China where animal testing is required.

Thanks to a campaign by the BUAV and public pressure, plans to build a breeding facility for research beagles in the UK were shut down, saving thousands of dogs from a life of misery.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District in California announced that it will stop using cats and other animals for dissection.

4. FARM ANIMALS

50 major companies, including Mcdonald's, Target, Kroger and Safeway, among many others have announced plans to stop supporting suppliers who use gestation crates.

An undercover investigation by the HSUS of the Westland Hallmark Meat Packing Company resulted in a lawsuit and a $500 million settlement - the largest settlement ever reached in a case involving animal cruelty.

Rhode Island became the ninth state to ban gestation crates, the seventh state to ban veal crates and the second state to ban tail docking.

thanks for the comprehensive update! sounds like some positive gains all around.Re-dedicating myself for the coming year, especially on behalf of the wolves in WA and everywhere they are threatened.Time to put an end to arial hunting and shooting!!Please help..thanks, Carol

MUCH gratitude to you Alicia for sharing with us some of the most noteworthy animal advocacy issues and victories of 2012. There is so much work to do and its good to know that we can indeed make a difference.

Let's keep it going... the world WILL be a better place when we stop causing suffering to our worldwide animal co-residents !

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SIGNED AND WILL CONTINUE TO SIGN PETITIONS ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO CANNOT.

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Etsy for Animals (EFA) aka Artists Helping Animals, is a team of independent artists, craftspeople, vintage sellers and craft suppliers on Etsy.com who are dedicated to providing charitable relief to animals by donating a portion of the profits from their shops to an animal charity of their choosing, and/or to EFA's featured Charity of the Month.